UDA nominations: Dr. Erick Mutai floors ex-CS Charles Keter for Kericho governor’s ticket

Kericho County gubernatorial aspirant Dr. Erick Mutai has floored his competitor former Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter to bag the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket.

Dr. Mutai, during the UDA nomination exercise held on Thursday, garnered 126,038 votes beating Keter who secured 60,342 votes.

Dr. Mutai, popularly known as 'the equalizer', recently joined forces with Eng. Fred Kirui who was initially also seeking the gubernatorial seat, and who set aside his ambitions to be Dr. Mutai’s running mate.

The UDA stalwart commended the party for carrying out a transparent, free and fair exercise, further calling upon his competitors to team up in support of his bid as well as the presidential ambitions of party leader William Ruto.

He called on them to consolidate their support as they focus on mounting a campaign for Ruto to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August polls.

"For those of us who lost this election, all is not lost, you fought hard for this election. We know you spent your resources. I swear, where it is possible, we will accommodate you in the next government and where it will not possible we will negotiate with the national government to see some of us also have some space," Dr. Mutai said after being declared winner.

"UDA is a big family and it can accommodate all of us. Let us not move from the party to the independent candidate. The energy we want now is the energy to deliver for the William Ruto."

Former CS Keter, speaking after casting his vote at the Kericho polling station on Thursday, commended the course of the UDA exercise noting that it is by far the 'best nomination ever.'

"I want to thank the party, I think this is the best ever organized nominations exercise since I joined politics," said Keter.

"It has been a smooth election, there are no tensions at all in Kericho. I really want to thank the voters of Kericho, the turnout is perfect and they are exercising their democratic right at the right environment."